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Design at Mercyhurst University

Erie, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
23 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
24
Optimistic
23
Base Case
33
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,267/yr (-17% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #245 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Design graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $641K $629K $579K
Earnings Multiple 3.6x 3.5x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 24 23 33

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$178,040
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$109,052
39% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,836
11.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,401
107% growth from Year 1

About Mercyhurst University

Mercyhurst University accepts 83% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 2,217 students in Erie, PA. The average net cost of $109,052 over four years represents a 39% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Mercyhurst University →

Top Career Paths

Art directors $111,040/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary $101,480/yr
Special effects artists and animators $99,800/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 290 schools offering Design →

Design at Other Schools

Carnegie Mellon University ($66,274) University of Southern California ($64,846) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($63,449) University of California-Los Angeles ($57,615) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($52,694) University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ($52,526) Utah State University ($52,431) Interior Designers Institute ($51,188)

Other Majors at Mercyhurst University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($64,519) Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations ($52,211) Finance and Financial Management Services ($49,251) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($47,215) Special Education and Teaching ($46,636) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($38,557) Political Science and Government ($34,711) Hospitality Administration/Management ($34,675)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Design trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Mercyhurst University's Design program score?
This program scores 23/100 — on the lower end for Design. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Design to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Design careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 38% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Design earnings lower at Mercyhurst University?
Lower starting pay at Mercyhurst University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →